HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: In the line of fire

Others know Lady Wildcats are ones to beat

Kimberley Parker/Standard-Times A granite monument is secured in front of the Water Valley Elementary School and Gymnasium, showing the 2011 State Volleyball Championship win by the Water Valley Girl's Volleyball team. Birk Monument employees Mark Castleberry and Armando Bastardo level the 3-foot monument before permanently cementing it in place in front of the Water Valley School.

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Water Valley's Kelly McCain (4) and Melodie Wood (9) attempt to block a shot during the first game of the Lady Wildcats' win in the Class 1A state volleyball finals on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos.

Tommy Metthe/Abilene Reporter-News

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Avery Brown, Water Valley

Of note: Brown, the 2011 All-West Texas MVP, averaged 14.4 kills and 13.2 assists for the state champion Lady Cats.

Trisha Horwood, Sterling City

Of note: After a stellar season in 2011, Horwood returns in hopes of leading Sterling City to the playoffs.

Bailey Halfmann, Miles

Of note: Halfmann averaged 7 kills and 4 blocks per match as a freshman in 2011.

Ashley Doss, Grape Creek

Of note: The District 3-2A Co-MVP racked up 645 kills and 274 blocks in 2011.

The Water Valley High School volleyball team will have a target on its back this season — literally.

One season removed from winning the Class 1A state title, while compiling an impressive 37-8 overall record, the No. 1-ranked Lady Wildcats have embraced the transition from being the hunter to the hunted.

"Our motto is 'We've got a target on our backs,' " head coach Andrea Hutchins said. "Our shirts have that. We put a target on our backs, because that's what everybody is shooting for. They're shooting for us.

"On the front it has the state of Texas, and there's an arrow shooting through Garland (site of the state tournament). That's our objective. They all want to beat us, but we have to stay focused on getting back."

Water Valley only lost one player to graduation and returns a slew of talent that includes three All-West Texas selections — Abby Glass, Melodie Wood and MVP Avery Brown.

As the trio prepares to spearhead the charge back to state, Hutchins says the focus will be on handling the pressure that comes with being the defending champion, especially while competing in one of the toughest 1A districts in the state.

Water Valley's competition in District 4-1A includes area powers Bronte, Miles and Sterling City, along with Veribest and TLCA.

"The pressure is on," Hutchins said. "I haven't felt pressure like this in — I don't think ever. I don't want the kids to feel the pressure where they can't perform and they can't compete.

"It's going to be more intense. Anybody that beats us is going to make a huge deal out of it. They're going to jump up and down like they won the state tournament. If we lose we have to use it. And when we win we can't get the big head. We're going to face everybody else like they're the state champions."

Bronte and Miles were both state-ranked teams that reached the playoffs last season, but they were hit much harder than the Lady Cats by graduation.

Along with losing head coach Brooke Sanford, who accepted the same position at Class 3A Pampa, Bronte lost three All-West Texas selections in Kimber Lee, Jill Scott and Harley Wallace, that headlined a talented senior class in 2011.

New Lady Longhorns' head coach Robynn Jones is tasked with replacing some key players, but she is excited about the challenges that await in District 4-1A.

"Having grown up in the district, I'm very accustomed to the rivals that exist," said Jones, who is a Veribest alum. "The teams in our district are going to be tough, but we are too. That's the mindset that we're going in with. We're young, but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

A strong tradition and instilled work ethic could have this year's Lady Horns right back in the mix.

Miles also suffered some big senior losses, none bigger than All-West Texas Co-Hitter of the Year Cadyn Heinze, but the Lady Bulldogs return two honorees in Savanna Robertson and Bailey Halfmann.

Miles is coming off two straight postseason runs and has a group of younger players coming up that have benefited from being on the court.

"I think we're going to be stronger from the outside than we have been in the past," head coach Heather Archibald said. "We're going to be young in the middle still, but everybody's gotten a lot more court time which has made them more comfortable."

Archibald says playing in such a competitive district has helped raise her team's level of play and prepared it to be ready for the tough matches both during the regular season and the postseason.

"I think they know what to expect right off the bat," she said. "We have to perform at a high level for the first month, month and a half, if we want to get in the playoffs. And I think it relaxed them last year once we did get into the playoffs, because we had already had some intense, high-pressure matches. I think it does make a difference and it does help a lot."

One team that could make a big jump in the standings this season is Sterling City.

The Lady Eagles return two of the better players in the area, All-West Texas hitter Savannah Jones and standout setter Trish Horwood, as well as a lot of young talent ready that got varsity experience because Sterling City did not field a JV squad.

In any other district in the state, the Lady Eagles probably would have been a playoff team. Head coach Denise Richards feels this season they will.

"I'm very excited," Richards said. "Our expectations are to be in the playoffs. We've talked about getting some hardware from tournaments and getting some of those gold balls too. That's really our expectations this season is to be a playoff team."

Veribest and TLCA round out the district. Veribest begins the season with a new head coach in former Central player Rebecca Maberry.

TLCA, a charter school, is only entering its third year of UIL competition.

Here's a look at our other area teams.

DISTRICT 6-2A

Grape Creek is above and beyond the top Class 2A team in the area.

The Lady Eagles have won six straight district titles and have won in the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

Last year, Grape Creek recorded its second postseason victory in its young history but was eliminated by Bushland in the regional quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

With seven returning seniors — including All-West Texas selections Ashley Doss and Macayla Burner — head coach Leah Flores is expecting her team to make the next step in 2012.

"Because of where we've been the past two years in the playoffs, I definitely expect more, and they do too" she said. "We all want to make it to the next level. The next step is the regional tournament. We're not satisfied with winning district and winning that first playoff game anymore. We want more."

An experienced group of Lady Eagles are set to take the court this season with what Flores says is "more heart and desire."

"We've got a good group coming back. We are looking to fill a few spaces where we're missing (Kristen) Covey and (Alexis) Gallimore, but every other spot was played by one of the girls that's coming back. And we've got girls that were subs last year that can jump right in. So, it's looking good."

Realignment moved Grape Creek into a new district with Sonora, Bangs and Reagan County.

Sonora is entering its third season after resurrecting the program in 2010 and should compete with Bangs for a playoff spot.

The athletic Lady Broncos have a new coach this year in Amanda Rollert, and they should continue raising their level of play in 2012.

Another new coach, Reagan County's Jamie Waites, will help the Lady Owls begin their volleyball program.

OTHER AREA TEAMS

Wall High School had 43 kids come out for its first-ever attempt at starting a volleyball program.

Head coach Ashley Gould was tabbed to lead the Lady Hawks, who will play a junior varsity schedule for the next two years before competing at the varsity level in 2014.

Elsewhere around the area, Junction drops from Class 2A to 1A this season and could prove to be a playoff team by season's end.

The Lady Eagles, who are coached by April McAdams are aligned in District 27-1A with Center Point, Harper, Leakey, Medina and Utopia.